Woman arrested for counterfeiting checks in motel room

SARAH MERTINS

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, May 18, 2005

On May 11, Officer E. Squier was sent to Champions Inn at 20145 Eastway Village Circle after the Humble Police Department was told by an anonymous person that methamphetamine users may be staying there. Detective Bill Ballard said that the officer knocked on the door of the room where the subjects were purported to be staying; however, no one answered the door.

According to Ballard, while the officer was still at the location, a vehicle drove up and then left after the occupants saw the officer. Squier pursued them and pulled them over. After confirming that they were some of the same people implicated by the informant, the unidentified man and woman were arrested on outstanding traffic warrants.

Ballard said that in the meantime, he waited outside the room until 12:01, when the room's occupants' lease had expired. At that point, the motel's staff assisted in opening the door.

Danielle Diane Bradley, also known as Danielle Diane Canerday, was inside the room and was taken into custody for outstanding traffic warrants. A man with her was also arrested on outstanding warrants. Physical evidence of Bradley's crime was found in the room and was seized by officers.

Upon further investigation, Ballard determined that the 23-year-old was the same woman who had passed a check for $452.08 at T.J. Liquors on April 19. Employees of the store did not realize that it was forged until May 5 when it was returned from the bank. The check that she had produced was purported to be a payroll check from H and R Block. She also allegedly attempted to pass a second check on May 7 at the liquor store on Bender Avenue but was denied. Employees contacted the police department at that time but she had fled the scene before they arrived, Ballard said.

Bradley was booked into the Harris County Jail on a charge of forging a financial instrument and bond was set at $2,000. Two days later, on May 13, she pled guilty to the charge and received two years deferred adjudication and two days in jail. She received credit for time served, Ballard said. He added that if she violates her probation in any way, she may be sentenced to two years in jail.